Sanitary over

ABSTRACT

Sanitary Cover is a spring-loaded, pressure activated device that can be attached to a toilet seat and has flaps that move out of and into place when pressure is placed on the toilet seat and removed from the toilet seat, respectively. To use Sanitary Cover, a user could mount the device to a conventional toilet seat using the brackets. When a person sits on the toilet seat after proper installation, the weight of the user will cause the springs to flip the flaps open into the toilet bowl. When a user stands up, the pressure will be removed, permitting the springs to flip the flaps back to a closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This United States Non-Provisional Patent Application does not claimpriority to any United States Provisional Patent applications or anyforeign patent applications.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to the restroom andbathroom accessories industry. The invention discussed herein is in thegeneral classification of toilet seats and toilet seat covers andaccessories.

BACKGROUND

Germs cover almost every surface on the earth. Individuals are protectedto a certain degree from the ill effects of these germs by their immunesystems. White blood cells, cilia, and other components work together tokeep germs out of the body and to kill any germs that bypass the body'sdefense mechanisms. The immune system is not perfect, however, anddespite the body's best efforts, every person becomes ill at leastoccasionally.

Individuals attempt to minimize the strain on their immune systems bymaintaining a germ free environment. Most people wash their handsregularly, especially during flu and cold seasons, to eliminate germs.Antibacterial hand cleaners are also popular and allow individuals todisinfect their hands even when soap and water are not available.

Homeowners also go to great lengths to keep their homes clean and asgerm free as possible. Many household cleaners and sprays arespecifically designed to disinfect and kill germs. Even with all theproducts that are available, however, it is impossible for a person tolive in a completely germ free environment.

The bathroom is one of the most germ-laden rooms in a home. Consumersexpend significant resources to keep bathrooms clean, but no matter howmany disinfectant products are utilized, germs remain in the bathroom.Bathrooms are often contaminated through the flushing of a toilet. Whena toilet is flushed with the lid up, germs and bacteria are releasedinto the air and cover many surfaces in the bathroom. Unfortunately,many people, especially young children, do not close the lid to thetoilet before they flush the toilet.

Hence, there is a need in the art for an easy to use, affordable, safeand effective device for automatically covering a toilet seat before thetoilet is flushed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Sanitary Cover is a spring-loaded, pressure activated device that can beattached to a toilet seat and has flaps that move out of and into placewhen pressure is placed on the toilet seat and removed from the toiletseat, respectively.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device thatattaches to a toilet seat and covers the opening to the toilet seat toprevent discharge of germs to the bathroom environment when the toiletis flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an affordable device thatcovers the opening to the toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that is safe touse in public restrooms or in households bathrooms and covers theopening to a toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that easilyattaches to a toilet seat and that is easily used for covering theopening to a toilet seat when the toilet is flushed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, durabledevice that attaches to a toilet seat and can fit on any standardtoilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention attached to a toilet seat.

FIG. 3 depicts a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention attached to a toilet seat with the flaps of the preferredembodiment in the down position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of Sanitary Cover is comprised of flaps thatcan be attached to a toilet seat via brackets. The brackets areoperatively attached to the flaps and springs. The flaps are surroundedby a seal and capable of opening when pressure is applied to the toiletseat and closing when pressure is removed from the toilet seat.

FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Twoflaps 1 are surrounded by a seal 2. The flaps 1 are each semicircular inshape and measure twenty inches in length and approximately ten inchesin width in the middle. The flaps 1 are approximately one-quarter of aninch in thickness and made of plastic in this preferred embodimentalthough rubber or other materials could also be utilized. The flaps 1overlap slightly and are preferably made of a nonporous, durable andflexible plastic that permits the flaps 1 to conform to both oval andround shaped toilet bowls when installed on a toilet. Rubber or a spongetype material would ideally be used to form the seal 2 between thetoilet seat and the rim of the toilet bowl although other materialscould also be utilized.

Brackets 3 are attached to the underside of the flaps 1 and to springs(not pictured). The springs and brackets 3 are made of stainless steelor plastic. In the preferred embodiment shown, four brackets 3 areutilized to attach to a toilet seat.

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1when it is attached to a toilet seat 20. The brackets 3 attach to theunderside of the toilet seat 20 and to the springs 21 and the flaps 1via bracket arms 22. The springs 21 are pressure activated such thatweight or other force applied to the toilet seat 20 will deploy thesprings 21 and force the bracket arms 22 to move and consequently theflaps 1 to open. A variety of attaching mechanisms may be utilized tomount the brackets 3 to the toilet seat 20, including but not limited toscrews with corresponding holes in the brackets 3 and underside of thetoilet seat 20. The seal 2 is also visible from this angle.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the inventionwhen it is attached to the toilet seat 20. The flaps 1 are shown in theopen position. The bracket arms 22 connected to the spring force theflaps 1 to open when pressure is applied to the toilet seat 20. Theflaps 1 are shown with a slight curve that will naturally occur when theflaps 1 contact the toilet bowl due to the flexible nature of thematerial used for the flaps 1 in the preferred embodiment. The seal 2 isvisible beneath the toilet seat 20.

Several possible variations of the preferred embodiment are possible. Inone alternative embodiment, a lever can be attached to the flaps topermit manual opening and closing of the device without applyingpressure to the toilet seat.

The device may also be produced with it already installed on a toiletseat. It would simply be a modification to existing toilet seat designsthat utilize a two-piece system. The bottom portion of a conventionaltoilet seat provides a comfortable area for a person to sit and isconnected by a hinge to a lid that must be manually opened and closed.In one embodiment of the invention, the device described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 1-3 will be installed on a conventional toilet seat to form athird piece to the system.

To use Sanitary Cover, a user could mount the device to a conventionaltoilet seat using the brackets. When a person sits on the toilet seatafter proper installation, the weight of the user will cause the springsto flip the flaps open into the toilet bowl. When a user stands up, thepressure will be removed, permitting the springs to flip the flaps backto a closed position.

The components of Sanitary Cover may vary widely but will likely utilizeplastic, metal and rubber components. The metals would ideally beselected from available steel or alloys of steel and aluminum. Theproduction process related to the use of these metals insures that themetal is non-corrosive, durable and strong. The selected metal shouldhave high impact strength and be capable of accepting and retainingcoloring materials for an extended length of time. Stainless steel wouldbe most appropriate because the device will be used in or near water.

The plastic used in the production will ideally be selected fordurability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly used in themanufacturing of components similar to those used in this invention.Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar thermoplastic materialswould be among those with the necessary traits. Members of this familyare recognized universally as being versatile and of high quality.

The plastic components of Sanitary Cover can also be formed with the useof plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding or blowmolding. Injection molding requires melted plastic to be forcefullyinjected into relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, ittakes on the shape of the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for themass production of products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form ofextrusion, could be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube beingpushed into a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube againstthe cold walls of the mold.

The size of Sanitary Cover may vary widely. It should be obvious thatany color, shape or size toilet seat could be utilized with the presentinvention. It should further be obvious that while the current inventionis described herein in conjunction with public restroom and householduse, it could be used anywhere a toilet is located, including on buses,airplanes, recreational vehicles and the like. It should further beobvious that although the device described herein is ideally used withan elongated oval shaped toilet seat or circular shaped toilet seat, ahorseshoe or other shaped toilet seat could also utilize the presentinvention. Also, while the preferred embodiment of the inventionutilizes springs located on the brackets, it is possible to have thebrackets utilized solely for attachment to the toilet seat whileemploying arms attached to the springs in other locations on the device.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

1. A restroom device comprising: (a) a first arm that is connected to afirst spring on one end and to a first flap on the opposite end; and (b)a second arm that is connected to a second spring on one end and to asecond flap on the opposite end.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein thefirst flap and the second flap are semicircular.
 3. The device of claim1 wherein the first flap and the second flap are made of rubber.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the second flap are made ofplastic.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first flap and the secondflap slightly overlap.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein a seal surroundsthe first flap and the second flap.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein theseal is made of rubber.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein the seal ismade of a sponge type material.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein thefirst spring is located on a first bracket and the second spring islocated on a second bracket.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the firstbracket, the first arm and the first spring and the second bracket, thesecond arm and the second spring are made of stainless steel.
 11. Thedevice of claim 9 wherein the first bracket and the first arm and thesecond bracket and the second arm are made of plastic.
 12. The device ofclaim 1 wherein a lever is operatively attached to the first flap and tothe second flap.
 13. A restroom device comprising: (a) a toilet seatattached to a first bracket on one side and a second bracket on theopposite side; (b) a first bracket arm connected to a first springlocated on the first bracket on one end and to a first flap on theopposite end; and (c) a second bracket arm connected to a second springlocated on the second bracket on one end and to a second flap on theopposite end.
 14. A restroom device comprising: (a) a toilet seatattached to a first bracket, a second bracket, a third bracket and afourth bracket; (b) a first bracket arm connected to a first springlocated on the first bracket on one end and to a first flap on theopposite end; (c) a second bracket arm connected to a second springlocated on the second bracket on one end and to the first flap on theopposite end; (d) a third bracket arm connected to a third springlocated on the third bracket on one end and to a second flap on theopposite end; (e) a fourth bracket arm connected to a fourth springlocated on the fourth bracket on one end and to the second flap on theopposite end; (f) said first flap and said second flap being made ofplastic and being semi-circular in shape and slightly overlapping; (g) aseal made of rubber surrounding the first flap and the second flap; and(h) the first spring, the first bracket and the first bracket arm andthe second spring, the second bracket and the second bracket arm and thethird spring, the third bracket and the third bracket arm and the fourthspring, the fourth bracket and the fourth bracket arm are made ofstainless steel.